UK weather: Bitter -17C freeze continues to grip Britain as strange phenomenon strikes

A jet stream will shift from south of the UK to the north, opening the gates to a flush of balmy gusts from the Atlantic.

Western regions will feel the first brush of the thaw before warmer weather creeps eastwards next week.

Met Office meteorologist Alex Deakin said: “Over the next four of five days, the jet will change orientation pushing south in the Atlantic and way to the north over Greenland, and that allows high pressure to build to the south and sit across much of the UK through next week.

“We will be on the warm side of the jet, and while it will take a while, we will gradually see those temperatures ticking up through the weekend and into the early part of next week.”

The nation will have to wrap up for a few more days as a cold and icy start to the weekend awaits.

But in the run up to mid-January high pressure, the driver of calmer conditions, will settle across the UK.

And where the clouds part, Britons will enjoy the strange phenomenon apricity – the sensation of warm sunshine during a cold winter snap.

Mr Deakin said: “For many, the weekend will start with high pressure and cold air still in place and we will continue to have those night-time frosts.

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“There is a continued risk of icy patches, some risk of sleet and snow in parts of the west though many eastern and central parts will be dry and bright with quite a bit of apricity, which is where you feel the warmth of the sun on a cold winter’s day.

“As we go into next week, we are likely to see a bit of a change, and while it is going to be a slow old process for the milder air to get to eastern parts, it will turn milder this weekend in the west.”

Temperatures through next week will nudge 12C in parts of the country, almost 30C higher from the previous week.

The cold snap saw the mercury drop to -17C in Cumbria this week, while heavy snow blanketed northern Britain.

Southern and western regions are in the firing line for the last flurries as mild air from the west moves into cold air over the UK.

However, with high pressure in place next week, the outlook for most of the country is for calmer, milder weather.

Jim Dale, meteorologist for British Weather Services and social commentator, said: “The cold weather will last into the weekend before temperatures start to rise and we come out of this cold snap.

“However, there is still the risk of snow, rain, and freezing rain through the rest of the week, and overnight temperatures will be low enough for frosts.”

Clear overnight skies will also bring the risk of mist and fog where snow remains on the ground, he warned.

He said: “Where the ground is very cold there, dense fog will be a risk and this will be an issue in the mornings when visibility on the roads will be reduced.”